Michael Appleton and Neal Ardley are the early frontrunners to become Notts County’s new manager following the sacking of Harry Kewell after less than three months in charge.

Kewell was informed of his fate by chairman Alan Hardy on Tuesday with the Magpies’ owner citing poor results and performances as the reasons behind his departure.

His assistant Warren Feeney and first-team analyst Paul Murphy have also left the club who hope to appoint Kewell’s successor ahead of their League Two clash against Cheltenham this weekend.

Appleton is an early favourite to fill the hot seat with the former assistant manager of Leicester City currently out of work having left the Foxes earlier this year as Claude Puel restructured his coaching staff.

He was in the stands to watch Notts’ 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Barnsley at the weekend which ultimately proved Kewell’s last game in charge of the club.

Appleton does have considerable management experience having had spells at Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers but his best spell came at Oxford where he led the club to promotion to League One and two EFL Trophy finals.